DARE I SAY "QUARTERBACK CONTROVERSY''?

Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach Ken Miller cautioned reporters not to read too much into his decision to start Steven Jyles — not Darian Durant — at quarterback in Tuesday’s pre-season game against the Calgary Stampeders.

That said, the move did raise a few eyebrows.

Given the uncertainty at quarterback that plagued the Roughriders for much of the 2008 season, this is a team that is in dire need of stability at football’s most crucial position. The correct signals were transmitted when Durant’s re-signing was announced in early January — six weeks before he could have become a free-agency.

From the outset, the Roughriders’ brass made it clear that no promises were made to Durant, other than that he would be No. 1 on the depth chart to begin training camp. Since camp began, Miller has noted that there is a close battle between Jyles, Durant and Dalton Bell. That point was underlined Monday when Miller announced that Jyles would start in the exhibition finale.

Does that signify that Jyles is now first on the depth chart? That is open to debate. But the fact that Durant is not starting the final pre-season game — at home, no less — demonstrates that he does not necessarily have a lock on the job that was once presumed to be his.

Now, is that healthy? At some point, the Roughriders have to settle on a starting quarterback and play him. Given the lack of experience at that position, the pre-season finale would seem to be an ideal time to give the starter two or three quarters of repetitions.

Then again, maybe not.

Quarterback controversy? Not just yet, but there is some fodder for debate.

This Week's Flyers

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.